Abstract

This paper will provide a methodology and progress report from a multivocal thematic synthesis being conducted on an extensive, diverse body of empirical studies. The study data includes a corpus of peer-reviewed empirical literature sharing a common reference published in English between 2000 and 2014.

In this study, data to be synthesized share a common reference to the Garrison, Anderson, and Archer (2000) seminal paper introducing the Community of Inquiry framework, one of the most influential distance and blended learning theories published (Halverson, Graham, Spring, Drysdale, & Henrie, 2013). The study has two deliverables: 1) a multivocal thematic synthesis analysing contexts, populations, learning and teaching environments, and aspects of learning being studying through the lens of the CoI framework; and 2) an online, open, dynamic compendium of all CoI empirical research citing the Garrison et al., 2000, seminal paper. The purpose of the study is two-fold: to bring systematization and organization to a large body of research to support the work of other researchers, practitioners, and policy makers; and to provide an up-to-date methodology framework for creating an online database from large bodies of literature with a common reference.

The data used in the thematic synthesis study consisted of full-text copies of peer-reviewed research articles. The data was analysed using an open, constant-comparative, three-stage thematic synthesis methodology. As the procedures used to gather, organize, and archive the data in this study could be applied to any multivocal body of research, the methodological processes was documented in detail to provide a framework for future research and may serve as an exemplar for sharing research data as an open-access resource.